Cornyn Preaches Moderation, Then DeMint Calls Obama "World's Best Salesman Of Socialism"

Speaking before a red-meat conservative audience in Washington D.C., National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman John Cornyn did something a bit rare, he pleaded for political moderation in the party's efforts to regain control of the Senate.

"I would rather have a Republican who votes with me 80 percent of the time than a liberal Democrat who would vote with me 0 percent of the time," said the Texas Republican. "I understand that occasionally we get frustrated by the way that some of my colleagues vote, I do too. But a circular firing squad is no solution to the problems our party faces right now."

It was one of the few times that the audience had been asked to put aside their ideological orthodoxy in exchange for electoral leverage. Indeed, the vast majority of speakers at the Conservative Political Action Conference had enthusiastically rejected the notion that the Republican Party needed a re-thinking of its philosophical pillars. What was needed, they offered, was firmer, more passionate and aggressive opposition to the Democratic powers that be. As if on cue, the very next speaker to address the crowd, Sen. Jim DeMint, laced into congressional leadership -- accusing it of a lack of willingness to say the word "freedom" -- and the president himself, calling Barack Obama "the world's best salesman of socialism."

Cornyn, for sure, didn't tone down the sharp critiques of his political opposition. But his was a numbers game. "Having 41 [Republican Senators] means that we have leverage to block bad legislation or more importantly to shape it. And to bring Democrats to the negotiating table," he said. "Our mission is clear: we must win most republican seats. We must build a new majority."

As for the 2010 elections -- which seem, at this moment, to offer Democrats a good chance to expand their majority -- Cornyn called the landscape "promising."

"We have to hold," he said, open seats in Ohio, Missouri and Florida. While there was a chance for the GOP to pick up seats in New York, Connecticut, Illinois, Arkansas, Colorado, Nevada, "and yes, even California."

Comments

[sueno]

10:39 AM on 03/02/2009

Socialism! What a joke!
When the "rich" lose money it's called "socialism"-
When the "rich" fail at business, they file for chapter 11 or 13,
then move their assets to another company. or family member.
Then of top of that receive tax breaks to help them out.
THIS IS SOCIALISM FOR ELITES, that Santelli, Rush and their friends are crying over-
"Socialism for the Eilites" is acceptable because its under the table and they still profit.
BUT, ask these "elites" to give up money that they "robbed" from the middle-class
then its "class-warfare" against them.
These whining people are "dinosaurs" who created this situation
and see their "corrupted" good-life gone .
Well, I say good riddance and bring on the class-warfare,
'cause you people have robbed this country enough,
so shove that stupid rhetoric where the sun doesn't shine-

[wordvarc]

04:59 PM on 03/01/2009

Despite the 'small government' rhetoric GOP administrations grew government far more than Democratic administrations in the last 30 years. This 'trickle down economy and government' has been a war on the American people rape and pillage mentality with the GOP elitists collecting the spoils and the middle and lower picking up the tab.

[babyboomerorig]

10:00 AM on 03/02/2009

If memory serves me correctly, Bush raised the debt of this country more than all the previous Presidents combined.

It's a shame that we now have all these pieces to pick up and put back together. it's almost like a 2-year-old that refused to pick, or even attempt, to pick up his toys before he went out to play.

[politicali]

01:38 PM on 03/01/2009

Republicans are so afraid of socialism, or what they think socialism is. Pure Socialism is dead in this planet, with the exception of maybe Cuba and nowhere else. What happens now is that this crisis is demonstrating that pure capitalism is also dead, we need some socialism in the mix to take care of the people.

[2008CaliforniaFan]

03:42 PM on 03/01/2009

they really need to stop the whole Socialism arguement. it makes NO sense. Just this morning Karl Rove with George S. on ABC admitted that Socialism was not correct. When Bush's chief of staff admits it's a Lie.... how can you defend it after that.
If they keep saying it it makes them look ignorant. .. But keep saying it GOP.

[wordvarc]

05:03 PM on 03/01/2009

Limbaugh is the defacto leader of the Grand Obstructionist Party. If he says it's socialism, it's socialism.

The funny thing is that when he says 'socialism,' his listeners say 'communism!'

[socalgal59]

11:36 PM on 03/01/2009

They aren’t afraid of it…they use it and they fund it. Socialism is alive and well in America--social security, Medicaid and Medicare are all forms of socialism--publicly-funded and operated pension and health care plans.

Socialism is also alive and well in Alaska where government ownership of private interests is essentially written into its constitution:

"It is the policy of the State to encourage the settlement of its land and the development of its resources by making them available for maximum use consistent with the public interest"

Their politicians use this clause to forces oil companies to fork over profits to residents. In keeping with the spirit of their state constitution, GOP Gov. Palin insists she has a mandate to aggressively pursue joint state ownership of the proposed natural gas pipeline--just as her predecessors seized joint ownership/interests of all oil, petroleum, and other such resources in the state.

Each year the oil companies pay into the Alaska Permanent Fund; a portion of the cash is used by the state and a portion is divided among the citizens of Alaska. In 2008, more than 600,000 residents received a payment of $3,269.00 each.

Consider for a moment that every oil company doing business in the United States made billions in profit each quarter--wouldn’t it have been nice to share in a small portion of those profits. The Republican socialists in Alaska--and majority of residents in Alaska are republicans--may be on to something here.

[MaximMaximus]

01:00 AM on 03/02/2009

You seem to be confusing social policy with Socialism. If you were correct (and you're a not) all G20 countries would be considered Socialist which they're not. Ignorance is not of the essence, mind you? While Socialism (one extreme; excluding close cousin Communism) is a failed political experiment, so is (unfortunately) Capitalism -the other extreme. A close look to the economic systems around the world would indicate that the world seem to be converging to an equilibrium which is a hybrid between private ownership and state ownership. Like anything else in life, the economic systems created by manking is also evolving.

[MarcoEsquandolas]

01:21 PM on 03/01/2009

actually, i think a circular firing squad might be the answer.

[toffee]

08:30 PM on 03/01/2009

it sure is. anyone who said otherwise must be a traitor.

[Imhotep40]

12:14 PM on 03/01/2009

Socialism:
–noun
1. a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.

Obama is not advocating socialism and the Republicrat Congress needs to find a new "tag line" of opposition.

This argument will never resonate with Americans because we see through the Hypocrisy and double-standard regarding Entitlements, Farm Subsidies, Wall Street Bailouts, Billion Dollar appropriations to the Defense Industrial Complex etc, etc . . . . .

Tactic vs. Strategy . . . . .Republicrats still haven't learned the difference.

[MaximMaximus]

01:02 AM on 03/02/2009

Good point. I should be noted that "privately owned and profit seeking economic entities" are seeking funding from the government as they have bankrupted themselves. So it is the capitalist class asking for help from the people basically. The government never had the desire to take over private enterprise. Private enterprise was begging the government. The government has stepped in to protect the people which have been abused by the private sector for decades. In the end, we have come full circle for the worst. Let's hope there is a way out of this mess.

[grf67]

10:07 AM on 03/01/2009

These GOP senators should do the honorable thing for their states and refuse to take any of the stimulus funds. Any other action would mean that they were dishonest hypocrites.

[sueinmn]

09:25 AM on 03/01/2009

The GOP plan? GOP Capitalism? Small Government?
The rest of the jobs shipped overseas, free trade competing to be a 3rd world nation
millions more to healthcare CEO's and drug companies
more tax evasion for the wealthy
more immigrant low wage workers
total disregard of Americans throw them to the streets and starve
Bush tax cuts made permanent for the wealthy
continued wars, no bid contracts to profiteers
continued decaying of deteriorating American infrastructure bridges fall, pipes burting
pushing deeper the religious right into politics, praying in exchange for UI benefits
wage competition with the Chinese and Mexican scales
rap.age of the enviroment for profits continued destruction of the enviroment in denial because of religious beliefs
millions billions more to financial sectores to steal and line their own pockets
This is capitolism
and if they were allowed to go further, they would perform ethnic cleansing of this country as they believe the bloated middle age white male gender is the only deserving power to be.
Spin you hates, spin your facist ideolgy beliefs and I'l take SOCIALISM any day.

[dollbaby]

08:50 PM on 03/01/2009

AMEN!!!!!

[jeliz]

07:41 AM on 03/01/2009

Please, I beg everyone, especially Republicans: Look up "Socialist" and "Fascist" in your Dictionary! You will see your beloved Republicans are far closer to "Fascists," such as Stalin -- and now seem to be becoming Hitler-like in their spewing of the "Mantra of Hate and Fear" via Mr. Limbaugh.

It's truly sad, really, but they would relish a replay of the Civil War, which is reprehensible and what this is all about.

This is America, a melting pot of people and ideas, not WASP (White Anglo-Saxan (sp?) Prostestant) America. We fought that war. You lost! Get over it and get in the 21st Century with the rest of us who want to restore America's reputation and enable her to succeed and be the leader in the World again.

Drink the Kool-Aid. I think you'll find it quite refreshing, and it will quench your thirst for sanity very well!

[demomntgirl]

08:49 AM on 03/01/2009

Republicans screamed SOCIALISM when the Clintons tried to get universal health care! It was defeated. AND WHO BENEFTITTED FROM THAT?? Insurance, drug, and medical CORPORATIONS!
Ever time their is an idea to HELP the MIDDLE CLASS Republicans scream SOCIALISM and IT IS OLD!!!
The American people are SUFFERING, our nation is in trouble, and the Replublicans push a TEA PARTY???
And dumping TEA will bring back the American people a job?
What unemployed person can afford to dump tea out?
What sick American who is dying with no insurance would be dumping tea out?
If your house if being taken away would your first thought be "I'm going to dump out some tea?"
This is all a SMOKE SCREEN so SUFFERING MIDDLE CLASS AMERICANS are not paying attention that the Republicans are FIGHTING AGAINST EVERY ounce of HELP for the MIDDLE CLASS!
The "TEA" and the "grassroots movement" is being funded by millionaire republicans who don't want to lose a dollar b/c they have to pay FAIR TAX!
Republicans SCREAM SOCIALISM AS FEAR MONGORING and the American people will NOT FALL FOR IT AGAIN! AFter 8 long dark years...ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! I didn't hear these people screaming communism/socialismwhen our rights were being taken away, we were taken into a war on LIES, we were being illegally wiretapped, and the RICH were given tax cuts on the backs of the MIDDLE CLASS WORKING PEOPLE!!
the party of NOPE and FEAR.... Republicans!!

[Gidster]

11:08 PM on 03/01/2009

"The health industry gave $14 million total to the eleven elected officials largely credited with negotiating the Medicare prescription bill. After that BS was passed, Billy Tauzin left Congress to become CEO of PhRMA for a $2 million annual salary!

They no longer represent their constituents, unless Corporate America has taken our place!

[MaximMaximus]

01:05 AM on 03/02/2009

The GOP base suffers from the lack of universal healthcare the most by the way. And yet they vote against their own self interest. They must be under the influence of the Stockholm syndrome. They seem to love being abused by the despotic GOP intelligentsia. What people seem to forget is that the largest welfare class in this society is in the bible belt and midwest which is vastly of caucasian (read white) origin.

[Bettysdad]

03:27 AM on 03/01/2009

Isn't a "socialist salesman" an oxymoron?

[wordvarc]

05:05 PM on 03/01/2009

!

[MicrowavableJohnnyCakes]

02:57 AM on 03/01/2009

Pick up seats in California? Where the GOP is imploding over the budget crisis? Cornyn needs to buy a clue.

[ThinkCreeps]

10:08 AM on 03/01/2009

Dim Sad John

[Badger84]

12:52 AM on 03/01/2009

DeMint runs for re-election in 2010. Time to target him.

[MargaretO]

11:34 PM on 02/28/2009

Well, I guess that makes Bush and his Republican crew the worlds best salesmen of socialism for war and corporate greed. We are paying for all of that big time, then and now and for many years from now.

[Andman0121]

10:22 PM on 02/28/2009

Ugh, enough PLEASE.

[truegreen]

10:00 PM on 02/28/2009

Republicans can't spell socialism.

[sej100]

06:26 PM on 02/28/2009

Funny when they controlled all, The GOP declared it was UNPATRIOTIC to criticize the president.

does that mean this entire group are traitors??????

At any rate what they keep proving every time they open their mouths is that they are a rather hateful and hated filled group. Now why would anyone ever listen to or believe them is the real question?

Its really incredibly stupid that the GOP rather than reform into something sensible became the party of rabid radical greedy fools.

[Bettysdad]

03:29 AM on 03/01/2009

Republicans ARE traitors, as they seek to destroy everything America stands for.

[Gidster]

11:10 PM on 03/01/2009

Not traitors..... Just so ingrained to an ideology that any deviation is anathema.

They are just lashing out at change like a small child when you rearrange their bedroom.